Apply to the university, begin undeclared
MIT says you apply to the entire university and all first-year students begin undeclared, free to choose any course of study without further admission procedures.
Undergraduate · MIT
MIT Finance (Course 15-3): a Sloan major entered after arriving
MIT does not admit students to a major or a school: every first-year student begins undeclared and may choose any course of study without further admission procedures. Finance, Course 15-3, sits in the MIT Sloan School of Management, and the Course Catalog's degree chart shows how economics, statistics, finance laboratories and accounting fit around the General Institute Requirements. For an A-level or IB applicant, the questions are what the chart asks, how the major is reached and what MIT requires, including the SAT or ACT. This guide claims no direct admission to Finance.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What MIT says about MIT Course 15-3
Taken from MIT Admissions' Majors & Minors, Tests & Scores and International pages and the MIT Course Catalog's Course 15-3 degree chart, read on 31 October 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check MIT's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Economics and statistics inside the programme
The chart lets 14.01 count for a HASS subject and 14.30, 18.05 or 15.053 count for the REST requirement.
Finance laboratories
The 12-unit Laboratory Requirement can be met by 15.417 (Laboratory in Investments); 15.418 is Laboratory in Corporate Finance.
A non-finance elective rule
Students may take 15.276 or 15.279 as a Non-Finance Elective, but not both.
SAT or ACT required; A Levels and IB named
MIT requires the SAT or the ACT and asks for the transcript to include external exams such as the IB or A Levels.
Official sources
- MIT Admissions: Majors & Minorsmitadmissions.org
- MIT Course Catalog: Finance (SB, Course 15-3)catalog.mit.edu
- MIT Admissions: Tests & Scoresmitadmissions.org
Read on 31 October 2026 on MIT Admissions' Majors & Minors, Tests & Scores and International pages and the MIT Course Catalog's Course 15-3 degree chart, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. MIT Sloan's undergraduate pages, the full finance elective lists, the subject descriptions behind the chart, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The major
What the Catalog chart shows
The Course Catalog lists Finance (SB, Course 15-3) in MIT Sloan. The chart builds on the General Institute Requirements, with departmental substitutions: 14.01 for one HASS subject, 14.30, 18.05 or 15.053 for REST and 15.417 for the laboratory. The departmental subjects include Laboratory in Investments, Laboratory in Corporate Finance and Corporate Financial Accounting, with finance electives numbered 15.43xx. This guide did not read the full elective lists or subject descriptions.
Is it the right major?
Finance, Economics or Management
MIT describes each as a separate course of study, so the choice is made after arriving. Avandy's comparison is general.
Finance fits if
you want a finance major with economics, accounting and laboratories on investments and corporate finance.
Economics fits if
you want economic theory and research; this guide did not read the Economics pages.
A quantitative course fits if
your interest is mathematics or computing. Avandy's MIT Course 18 and Course 6-3 guides cover them.
Admission and testing
SAT or ACT, with A Levels and the IB named
MIT says it requires the SAT or the ACT for first-year and transfer applicants. For international applicants, the transcript should include results of external examinations such as the IB or A Levels, with predicted grades sent if available. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not MIT's.
Do you want finance inside a technical university?
The major sits in Sloan, within MIT's General Institute Requirements.
Are you comfortable choosing a course later?
MIT applicants begin undeclared.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
MIT requires one of them.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
MIT's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check MIT's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 31 October 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. MIT has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check MIT for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the Course 15-3 degree chart and plan the SAT or ACT.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to MIT Finance?
No. MIT says you apply to the entire university, not to a specific major or school, and all first-year students begin undeclared.
Which school offers Finance?
The Course Catalog lists Finance (SB, Course 15-3) in the MIT Sloan School of Management.
What laboratory does the chart name?
The 12-unit Laboratory Requirement can be satisfied by 15.417, Laboratory in Investments.
Does MIT consider A Levels and the IB?
Yes. The transcript should include results of external exams such as the IB or A Levels, with predicted grades sent if available.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
MIT says it requires the SAT or the ACT for first-year and transfer applicants.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are MIT's wording with no entry-year label. Check MIT's pages again when MIT publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about MIT Course 15-3
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics and economics, their interest in finance and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.